Å arbeide med verdier i kirken. Etisk refleksjonsveiledning og verdibevissthet i religiøse organisasjoner

Abstract

The aim of the article is to investigate how the use of supervision in ethical reflection can facilitate value - consciousness in religious organizations. In turn, this contributes to our knowledge about the role of values and purpose in such contexts. This conceptual article presupposes that all types of leadership and organizations are value - based since values are inherent in actions and interaction. Neutral zones void of values do not exist, which challenges organizations and leaders to attend to the question of which values influence and characterize them and their work , and be conscious about such dynamics. The author discusses how managerial efforts on explicating the coherence of acclaimed identity (values-for-practice) and realized behaviour (values-in-practice) is required due to developments internal of religious organizations as well as a response to wider societal and cultural changes. The central concept in this article is value-consciousness applied through a practice perspective on religious organizations. The article presents a model of supervision in ethical reflection and discusses its relevance in a church context. The author substantiate this as a concrete tool for explicating values in congregations and in the practice of church employees and leaders.